MP Rupert Lowe has launched a public push for a parliamentary petition calling for court and tribunal transcripts to be made free of charge, arguing that access to official records is essential to uncover the full truth behind grooming gang cases.

Lowe says current fees create a serious barrier for victims, journalists and campaigners who are trying to scrutinise past prosecutions and understand how failures within the justice system were allowed to happen. He believes removing the cost would strengthen transparency, rebuild public trust and ensure that mistakes and institutional shortcomings cannot be hidden from public view.

Supporters of the proposal argue that open access to transcripts would allow wider independent examination of evidence and court decisions, particularly in long-running and highly sensitive cases involving vulnerable victims.